Stuck with Ansible error “couldn’t resolve module/action”? We can help you. As part of our Server Management Services, we assist our customers with several Ansible queries. Today, let us see how we can fix this error.

Overview

1. Ansible Error “couldn’t resolve module/action”: More On
2. Causes of the Error
3. How to Resolve Error “couldn’t resolve module/action”?
4. Other Troubleshooting Tips
5. Conclusion

Ansible Error “couldn’t resolve module/action”: More On

Typically the error message may look as shown below:

ERROR! couldn’t resolve module/action ‘community.mysql.mysql_db’. This often indicates a misspelling, missing collection, or incorrect module path.

The error appears to be in ‘/home/tech/ansible/Bobcares/test.yml’: line 4, column 7, but maybe elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem.

The offending line appears to be:

tasks:
– name: Create a new database with name ‘bobdata’
^ here

Usually, the error occurred if the ansible module we have used does not exist in the built-in module of ansible. It must be a community module. In such cases, while using the ansible-playbook command, the couldn’t resolve module message is returned.

Causes of the Error

1. Misspelled Module or Action Name: To fix a misspelled module or action name, double-check for typos and inconsistencies. Ansible is case sensitive.

2. Missing Collection: If we use a module from a collection, make sure it is installed and available. Check the collection namespace and module name in the playbook.

3. Incorrect Module Path: To fix an incorrect module path, we must ensure it’s on the Ansible search path. The ANSIBLE_LIBRARY environment option allows us to tailor the search path.

4. Module Dependency Issues: Some modules may have dependencies. Ensure that these prerequisites are met.

5. Ansible Configuration Issues: Check the Ansible configuration files for mistakes and inconsistencies.

How to Resolve Error “couldn’t resolve module/action”?

Today, let us see the simple steps followed by our Support Techs to resolve it. Firstly, we can make use of ansible-galaxy to install the module. In this case, we need to install MySQL community module.

Playbook use :

– hosts: server1.lab.com
gather_facts: false
tasks:
– name: Create a new database with name ‘bobdata’
community.mysql.mysql_db:
name: bobdata
state: present

Then, the module needs to be installed in Ansible Controlle. We can use ansible-galaxy install collection command to install the collection. In order to do that, run the below command:

$ ansible-galaxy collection install community.mysql

We will see the below results after running the command:

$ ansible-galaxy collection install community.mysql
Process install dependency map
Starting collection install process
Installing ‘community.mysql:2.1.0’ to ‘/home/bobcares/.ansible/collections/ansible_collections/community/mysql’

Once we install the module, we can re-run the playbook and it should run successfully.

Other Troubleshooting Tips

1. We must review the playbook for typos and erroneous module names.

2. Check the Ansible instructions for the specific version to ensure that we can use this module. Else, change the playbook to use a supported module.

3. If the module is part of a collection, use the command ansible-galaxy collection install to install it.

4. Ensure that custom or third-party modules are in the correct directory (for example, the library/directory of the role or playbook) and that the path is valid.

5. Check the YAML syntax to guarantee that Ansible can properly understand module and action names. We can use YAML linter to help identify issues.

6. When we’re using an out-of-date version of Ansible, we should consider upgrading to a newer version that supports the module or syntax we want to use. To update Ansible if it was installed via pip, run pip install –upgrade ansible.

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Conclusion

To fix the Ansible error “couldn’t resolve module/action,” ensure modules and collections are correctly named and installed, check module paths, and update Ansible if needed. We must also use ansible-galaxy to install missing modules and validate YAML syntax to avoid errors. Following these steps from our Support Team will help resolve the issue and ensure the playbook runs successfully.